Israel Sends Aid to Cholera-Stricken Haiti

Israel boosts aid to Haiti as the earthquake-ravaged country is hit by cholera. Aid will include permanent trauma unit.

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Maayana Miskin, 24/11/10 21:08 | updated: 21:41

IDF rescuers in Haiti after January 2010 Quak

Israel news photo: IDF

Israel has sent a new shipment of aid to the earthquake-ravaged nation of Haiti in the wake of a cholera outbreak that has killed more than 1,000 people. Two hundred thousand doses of medicine were sent this week.

In addition, Israel intends to send a team to Haiti to set up a permanent medical center for trauma and emergency care. The team will set up the building and train local medical professionals in its use.

Organizers said they hope the center will be complete within four months.

The Israel Forum for International Humanitarian Aid (IsraAID) sent a team to Haiti recently to assess the impact of the cholera outbreak. IsraAID has had teams in the area since an 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit in January.

The United Nations fears that the cholera epidemic could spread, ultimately affecting up to 200,000 people. An estimated 16,000 have been infected.

In January, shortly after the earthquake, an IDF team flew to Haiti and established a field hospital in which more than 1,100 people were treated and more than 300 surgeries performed. The field hospital ended its operations in late January as rescue efforts came to a halt.